ACRF awards $20 million to support transformative Australian cancer research: World-first total-body PET/CT scanning tech; reducing childhood cancer deaths; and revolutionising immunotherapies

Major medical breakthroughs could be on the horizon with Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) today announcing $20 million in funding to initiate four of Australia’s most promising cancer research projects. 

ACRF has dedicated the last 40 years to backing bold, brave and brilliant research into all types of cancer. Each of this year’s grant recipients propose a novel approach to help transform the way the disease is detected or treated in the 2 in 5 Australians who will receive a cancer diagnosis by 85 years of age.  

Following a comprehensive evaluation and selection process conducted by ACRF’s esteemed Medical Research Advisory Committee, four Australian research projects were considered compelling and worthy of the $20 million invested this year.  

The awards, formally announced today by the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, at Government House in Canberra, are as follows: 

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (VIC): ACRF Centre of Advanced Imaging-Guided Cancer Therapeutics 

A $10 million major grant has been awarded to develop and install a world-first total-body PET/CT scanner – an ultrasensitive and ultrafast molecular scanning device that enables cancer to be pinpointed and targeted with unmatched precision. 

Such high-performance imaging will allow researchers to better validate the effectiveness of treatments, monitor immune system responses and interactions, and track the behaviour of cells in the body. The faster, more detailed scans will pave the way, both for early detection and the development of new targeted treatments. This work will undoubtedly improve the lives of people with a variety of cancers, in Australia and across the world. 

Children’s Cancer Institute (NSW): The ACRF Childhood Cancer Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment Program

A $5 million major grant has been awarded to fund research that will focus on better identifying and treating children predisposed to cancer, providing safer and more effective treatments for those already diagnosed, and developing new targeted drugs for cancers currently deemed untreatable. 

Building on the success of the ZERO Childhood Cancer Program, this Program will leverage outcomes to focus on early detection, advanced treatments, and new childhood cancer therapeutics. Researchers will develop advanced diagnostic tools and investigate genetic mutations associated with cancer predisposition. Innovative drug-testing models will be developed to identify personalised treatment options, including immunotherapies. It will also pioneer the development of new targeted treatments, opening new avenues for treating both childhood and potentially adult cancers. These critical areas of research seek to improve the survival and quality of life for children with cancer, globally. 

Alfred Health and Monash University (VIC): The ACRF Centre for Dynamic Immuno-Oncology  

$2 million awarded for research harnessing state-of-the-art imaging technology to advance immunotherapy effectiveness and minimise side effects currently experienced by patients. 

This innovative research aims to address key challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Tapping into the power of real-time imaging, the project aims to tailor immunotherapy approaches to the unique cancer and immune biology of each patient.  

This will be accomplished by tracking how a cancer patient’s immune system responds to immunotherapy in real-time, predicting harmful side effects by identifying early signs of adverse effects or neurotoxicity (experienced by up to 30% of patients), and ongoing monitoring, to tailor immunotherapy approaches for each person. 

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (VIC): ACRF Centre for Cellular Imaging of Precision Immunotherapy  

$3 million is awarded to help researchers crack the immunotherapy effectiveness code to predict individual patient benefits.  

Immunotherapy stands as the single most exciting development in cancer treatment of this century. However, for up to 80% of patients, there is not significant therapeutic benefit. The Centre will aim to unlock the durable and curative power of immunotherapy by discovering causes of resistance and predicting individual benefits through real-time, state-of-the-art imaging of the cellular and tissue microenvironment. 

Kerry Strydom, CEO at Australian Cancer Research Foundation said: “Our goal at ACRF is to support the most brilliant and promising research into all types of cancers, something that is evident in our grant recipients for 2024.” 

“ACRF’s Medical Research Advisory Committee made up of outstanding senior cancer research professionals who possess in-depth knowledge and understanding of the global cancer research landscape, have thoroughly examined and competitively evaluated a range of strong applications this year.” 

“I would like to acknowledge the funding received from our collaborators. National Imaging Facility will contribute $1 million to the purchase of the total-body PET/CT scanner and fund operating costs of $0.75 million at ACRF Centre of Advanced Imaging-Guided Cancer Therapeutics. In addition, National Imaging Facility will contribute operating costs of $0.7 million for the ACRF Centre for Dynamic Immuno-Oncology. These fall under the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).” 

“Cancer Institute NSW will fund researcher salaries ($100,000 per year for five years) for ACRF Centre of Advanced Imaging-Guided Cancer Therapeutics and The ACRF Childhood Cancer Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment Program.” 

“Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation will support technical specialists ($100,000 per year for three years) for ACRF Centre of Advanced Imaging-Guided Cancer Therapeutics.” 

National Imaging Facility CEO Prof Wojtek Goscinski said: “The National Imaging Facility will co-invest a total of $2.45 million to integrate the two cutting-edge instruments at the Alfred Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre into Australia’s advanced imaging network. This initiative will create a unique national-scale total body PET/CT network for clinical trials, offering a vital asset for to advance the development of new cancer treatments.” 

NSW Chief Cancer Officer, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM, said: “Cancer Institute NSW is proud to support both groundbreaking cancer research projects through collaborative funding. Our investment will enable a skilled multidisciplinary NSW team to harness the full potential of the cutting-edge technology housed in the ACRF Centre of Advanced Imaging-Guided Cancer Therapeutics and The ACRF Childhood Cancer Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment Program.” 

Robin Penty, CEO, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation said: “The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation is delighted to support the new ACRF Centre of Advanced Imaging-Guided Cancer Therapeutics at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The science behind it builds on research that OCRF has supported previously and offers real potential to improve clinical management of ovarian cancer. We congratulate all involved on this visionary and ambitious project.” 

ACRF CEO Kerry Strydom added: “Over 40 years, we have awarded more than $204 million in grants to help fund cutting-edge cancer research projects around the country. We are confident that the four recipients have great potential to deliver significant health and social returns. We anticipate this funding will be leveraged to achieve breakthroughs that will save countless lives and improve outcomes for people diagnosed with cancer.” 

To learn more about the 2024 Grant Awards, click here.